Mattachione, Bekurs lead VSU housing operations

Joseph Mattachione and Gray Bekurs were recently promoted to new leadership positions for Valdosta State University's Office of Housing and Residence Life. Mattachione has been named director and Bekurs has been named associate director within the department that manages VSU's 1,600 students living in eight residence halls.

"Our department works and it works well," Mattachione said. "We want to continue to strengthen the program, ensuring that Valdosta State will be nationally recognized for its housing activities."

Mattachione joined VSU's Housing and Residence Life team in July 1995 as associate director. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in student personnel and higher education from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

An Ohio native, Mattachione brings a variety of experiences to VSU. Previously he served as the assistant director of residence life at Ramapo College of New Jersey and as the director of residence life and acting director of Student Activities at Urbana University in Ohio.

Bekurs came to VSU in June 1998 as a residence hall director. He previously served as a residence coordinator for Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., and a residence director for Mississippi State University.

Bekurs holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Science in counselor education.

"For me, the best thing about working at VSU is that it's a close-knit campus," Bekurs said. "People here work well together."

Professionally, Mattachione has served on the American College Personnel Association Government Relations Committee and as the chair of the same committee for the Ohio College Personnel Association. In addition, he has previously presented programs at various regional and national student affairs conferences.

Bekurs is affiliated with the National Association of Student Personnel Administration, the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs.